Hunting House » Hunting Equipment » Bass preamps
Bass preamps
Question:
Oops — forgot to mention the new GK midi-controlled preamp. Supposed to have GK sound in a midi-controlled preamp. I haven’t heard it. price circa $500. ciao — Bob | <<<Conceptual Breakthroughs in Driving>>> Davis | The passing lane is to be used while passing other vehicles. | The turn signal indicator is to be used to indicate turns.
Response:
I’d appreciate help in selecting a bass preamp. I’m interseted in one that would be fairly general purpose (ie. metal, jazz, country, etc.). I’m considering the ART SGX Nightbass but any other suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks. — Bob Dyas Tellabs, Inc.
Response:
Here are some random tidbits on various preamps. Ada’s bass preamp is a midi-controlled preamp only, i.e. it doesn’t include alot of effects. 1 rack space, graphic eq and semi-parametric eq, tube and clean input channels, etc. In the $650+ price range. I haven’t heard it myself (except when listening to Victor Wooten). ART’s nightbass is a "everything and two kitchen sinks" preamp, with various input channels, midi control, general purpose digital effector, etc. $700+ price range. Have heard mixed reports on the preamp sound quality sans gizmos. Listen for yourself if possible. I’ve tried the digital effector and didn’t find the effects relevant personally, but they may be useful for you depending on music and sound taste. Ashley’s highly regarded preamp was closed out of their line, since they are trying to "focus" on pro sound rather than musician equipment. Boo hiss. This is a great used buy if you can find one. New they were around $300 and a great value at that. BBE’s new bass preamp is approximately the same price/performance point as the Ashley (<$350), and is worth a listen. It has a graphic eq and various other controls. Solid state. Some people really like it. I’m kinda luke warm on it. Carvin’s bass preamp is basically the same as the front end of all their heads, so if you’ve tried any of their stuff you know it. (editorial: not bad, but nothing special here). Hughes and Kettner makes a fairly expensive preamp called the "Fortress" which I’ve never seen or heard. I talked to them to see about this thing, but apparently they are working on a midi-controlled bass preamp along the lines of their guitar preamp — which is known for very high quality and excellent build, etc. They also have the little bass unit, which could be called a preamp I suppose. Peavey phased out the alpha bass preamp, which was one of the noisiest beasts known to man, but could be had for less than $200. They now have another preamp which looks somewhat similar, which I’ve not heard, but is now price competitve with BBE/Ashley, so try these before buying. If you already own an alpha, it can easily be improved by replacing parts internally. Mail me for more info. Pearce makes a bass preamp which has alot of control and excellent distorsion control with switching input channels. Excellent effects loop flexibility. If you do alot of rock/distorsion stuff, check this one out. In the ballpark of $500-600. SWR’s grand prix is a very nice (and expensive as expected) tube preamp. If you don’t mind 500+ for a non-midi preamp, it’s definitely worth checking out. SWR also sells a "tone control center" thing which is different than a typical pro sound eq in that the bands are wider for instrument "tone modification". Sorry guys, haven’t heard recent Trace Elliot, Mesa Boogie, Fender (do they make a preamp/don’t think so) stuff. PS: if you’re a biamp person, take note that not one of these preamps has a decent modern crossover (linkwitz riley 24db/8va). This sucks, and these manufacturers should be reamed for omitting this. If you really want a good crossover, you’ll have to buy a power amp with one built in, or get a crossover yourself from Ashley or Rane or … Happy gear hunting. — Bob | <<<Conceptual Breakthroughs in Driving>>> Davis | The passing lane is to be used while passing other vehicles. | The turn signal indicator is to be used to indicate turns.
Response:
> I’d appreciate help in selecting a bass preamp. I’m interseted > in one that would be fairly general purpose (ie. metal, jazz, country, > etc.). I’m considering the ART SGX Nightbass but any other suggestions > would be appreciated.
Go for it, if you have the bucks. The ART SGX Nightbass was one of the units that I have been looking at lately. Also, check out the ADA bass pre-amp. I have alos been looking at these. They seem to be a pretty hot number right now. What I have been using lately is (believe it or not) a Alesis Quadraverb GT. Now I know that it was made for guitars, but I’ve got it hooked up to a Crate stack right now and it sounds awesome. The processor handles from 5 Hz to 20 KHz, so I’m sure that it handles the sound well. This machine is only $600-$700 for the unit and a midi-pedal (much under the cost of the ADA or the ART). Remember, this is the "GT" unit and not the vocal/keys one. > Thanks. > — > Bob Dyas > Tellabs, Inc.
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